bidwell



(No Model.)

G. H. BIDWELL. HAND EXERGISER.

No. 410,778. Patented Sept. 10, 1889.

N. PETERS, Phnmuum n nu. Walhington, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. BIDWELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HAND-EXERClSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,778, dated September 10, 1889.

Application filed March 30, 1889- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE HUDSON BID- WELL, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Pocket Hand-Exerciser, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly simple, cheap, and durable ap paratus applicable for use in the exercising of the wrists, forearms, and fingers, such exercise being desirable for pianists and other musicians; and to the end named the invention consists, essentially, of a supporting attachment, an elastic strap secured thereto, and finger and hand attachments arranged for connection with the supporting attachment, all as will be hereinafter fully explained, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved hand-exerciser, and Fig. 2 is a view representing the apparatus as it appears when in use.

In the drawings I have represented my handexerciser as it would appear if the supporting attachment were constructed so as to be engaged by the foot of the user, such supporting attachment being shown at 10, and consisting of a chain or cord a, having a snaphook I) and a stirrup 0,- but in certain instances it might be well to provide for the at tachment of the chain a to a fixed object.

In order that the wrist and forearm of the user may be exercised, I provide a heavy rubber band 11, which carries eyes 12 and 13,

Serial No. 305,354. (No model.)

the fingers. The operator, resting the forearm on the knee, moves the hand up and down, thebarbeingheldfromdisplacementby means of the band 17 and the ring 18, said ring being grasped by the hand which is not being exercised; or the fingers of such hand might be passed through the ring, as shown in the drawings.

In order that the individual fingers may be exercised, I provide a cap 20, to which there is connected an elastic band 17 and a ring 18, and in order that the resistance offered to the movements of the fingers may be varied at will I provide a series of elastic bands, as 21, 22, and 23, each of said bands being pro vided with rings, as d and e. The cap 20 also carries a snap-hook 24, which maybe brought into engagement with any of the rings (1.

When the individual fingers are to be used, the parts are adjusted in the same manner as hereinbefore set forth, and the end of the finger to be exercised is placed within the cap 20, the cap being held from displacement by means of the band 17 and the ring 18, as will be readily understood.

The above implement is exceedingly simple, is cheap and durable, and should any of the parts become worn they may be readily replaced.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. In a hand-exercisin g attachment, the combination, with a support provided with a snaphook, of a series of elastic bands provided with rings, a cap, and a means for connecting the cap with the rings of the bands, substantially as described.

2. In a hand-exercising attachment, the combination, with a stirrup, of a snap-hook connected therewith, an elastic band provided with rings arranged for engagement with the snap-hook, a padded cross-bar connected to the band, and an elastic band connected with the cross-bar, substantially as described.

GEORGE H. BIDVVELL.

Witnesses:

EDWARD KENT, J r., EDGAR TATE. 

